Technique for determining whether to reestablish fast rerouted primary tunnels based on backup tunnel path quality feedback

An apparatus for dynamically determining whether to reestablish a Fast Rerouted primary tunnel based on path quality feedback of a utilized backup tunnel in a computer network, the apparatus comprising:

• means for establishing a primary tunnel from a head-end node to a destination;
• means for establishing a backup tunnel from a point of local repair (PLR) node along the primary tunnel around one or more protected network elements of the primary tunnel;
• means for detecting failure of one of the protected network elements;
• in response, means for diverting traffic received on the primary tunnel at the PLR node onto the backup tunnel;
• means for sending notification of backup tunnel path quality from the PLR node to the head-end node;
• and
• means for determining, at the head-end node, whether to reestablish the primary tunnel in response to the path quality of the backup tunnel.

A computer readable medium containing executable program instructions for dynamically determining whether to reestablish a Fast Rerouted primary tunnel based on path quality feedback of a utilized backup tunnel in a computer network, the executable program instructions comprising program instructions for:

• establishing a primary tunnel from a head-end node to a destination;
• establishing a backup tunnel from a point of local repair (PLR) node along the primary tunnel around one or more protected network elements of the primary tunnel;
• detecting failure of one of the protected network elements;
• in response, diverting traffic received on the primary tunnel at the PLR node onto the backup tunnel;
• sending notification of backup tunnel path quality from the PLR node to the head-end node;
• and
• determining, at the head-end node, whether to reestablish the primary tunnel in response to the path quality of the backup tunnel.

A system for dynamically determining whether to reestablish a Fast Rerouted primary tunnel based on path quality feedback of a utilized backup tunnel in a computer network, the system comprising:

• a head-end node configured to establish a primary tunnel to a destination;
• one or more protected network elements of the primary tunnel;
• a point of local repair (PLR) node along the primary tunnel configured to:
• i) establish a backup tunnel around the protected network elements, ii) detect failure of one of the protected network elements, iii) in response, divert traffic received on the primary tunnel at the PLR node onto the backup tunnel, and iv) send notification of backup tunnel path quality from the PLR node to the head-end node;
• and
• wherein the head-end node is further configured to determine whether to reestablish the primary tunnel in response to the path quality of the backup tunnel.

A point of local repair (PLR) node for use with dynamically determining whether to reestablish a Fast Rerouted primary tunnel based on path quality feedback of a utilized backup tunnel in a computer network, the PLR node comprising:

• one or more network interfaces;
• a processor coupled to the one or more network interfaces and adapted to execute software processes;
• and
• a memory adapted to store a TE process executable by the processor, the TE process configured to:
• i) establish a primary tunnel to a destination in response to a request from a head-end node, ii) establish a backup tunnel around one or more protected network elements, iii) detect failure of one of the protected network elements, iv) in response, divert traffic received on the primary tunnel onto the backup tunnel, and v) send notification of backup tunnel path quality to the head-end node.

A head-end node for use with dynamically determining whether to reestablish a Fast Rerouted primary tunnel based on path quality feedback of a utilized backup tunnel in a computer network, the head-end node comprising:

• one or more network interfaces;
• a processor coupled to the one or more network interfaces and adapted to execute software processes;
• and
• a memory adapted to store a TE process executable by the processor, the TE process configured to:
• i) establish a primary tunnel to a destination, ii) request protection of one or more protected network elements of the primary tunnel by one or more point of local repair (PLR) nodes, iii) receive notification of failure of the primary tunnel from one of the PLR nodes, iv) receive notification of backup tunnel path quality from that PLR node, and v) determine whether to reestablish the primary tunnel in response to the path quality of the backup tunnel.